Peach tree named &#39;p.f. lucky 24b&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of peach,  Prunus persica , tree having the following unique combination of desirable features:  
     1. Producing a very firm fruit that can best be described as “crunchy” when bitten into when firm ripe.  
     2. The limbs of the tree naturally grow at wide angles creating a wide-spreading tree.  
     3. A fruit with a smooth raised suture that remains firm as does the whole fruit.  
     4. A late maturing, highly colored, peach cultivar that matures a few days before the old standard variety, Cresthaven, and which hangs on the tree for many days, staying extremely firm.

ORIGIN OF VARIETY

[0001] The new peach tree (hereinafter referred to as the P.F. Lucky 24Bpeach tree) was originated by Paul Friday in the experimental orchard,which is maintained for the purposes of breeding peach trees, at PaulFriday Farms Inc., located in Coloma, Mich. Coloma is located in thesouthwest section of Michigan.

[0002] In an ongoing mass selection breeding program, superior seedlingsof unrecorded parentage are maintained as seed sources for theproduction of seeds which are collected and planted in mass. The seedproducing parent trees are maintained solely as proprietary trees forbreeding purposes and have not been released from the experimentalorchard, where such trees can be evaluated for their adaptability tolocal and regional growing conditions. Seeds resulting from openpollination of the trees in the experimental orchard are regularlyplanted in mass to produce new populations of seedlings which arecultured and monitored to maturity. Trees with superior attributes areretained for further observation and testing, and contribute seeds toadvancing generations of new populations of seedlings.

[0003] The tree of this application, P.F. Lucky 24B, was a selectionfrom one such a seedling population, and was based on the numeroussuperior genetic attributes of this tree which are described in thebotanical description to follow. While not comprehensive, the details ofthe botanical description to follow are believed to be a reasonablycomplete botanical description of the tree of this disclosure.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY

[0004] The new and distinct variety of peach tree was asexuallypropagated by budding as performed in the experimental orchard of PaulFriday Farms Inc., located in Coloma, Mich. The asexual propagationdemonstrates that such reproduction of the characteristics of the treeare consistent and are established and transmitted through succeedingpropagation.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

[0005] The new and distinct variety of peach tree is above averageheight and of upright growth and a regular and productive bearer ofpeaches. A distinct characteristic of the P.F. Lucky 24B peach tree isits medium vigor having growth of about twenty-four inches (24″) peryear. The blossoms bloom in mid-season and are characterized by beingcontracted or partially spread to approximately ¾-inch when in fullbloom. At the same time the five petals of the blossoms are of lesserlength than the length of petals of the normal showy blossom asexemplified by the Loring peach blossom.

[0006] The blossoms of the present peach tree at full bloom may becharacterized as being non-showy. More specifically, the blossoms of thepresent peach tree have radially projecting and angularly spaced fiveblossom petals to form a blossom having a diameter of about ¾-inchmeasured across the blossoms.

[0007] The flesh of the fruit of the present peach tree is extremelyfirm and is yellow.

[0008] The skin is smooth having moderate to little down and is of darkred color overlying a yellow ground color. The yellow background coversapproximately twenty percent (20%) of its surface at maturity. Atmaturity, the peach is spherical having an average diameter of about2¾″.

[0009] The fruit produced by this tree has firm, and non-melting flesh,and thereby has the attendant resistance to blemishes and soft spots inharvesting, shipping and handling due to bruising. The firmness of thefruit flesh is sufficient to allow the flesh to yield and be restoredwhen bumped or dropped without the resulting soft spots as would beexperienced in most late season peaches of this market class. Thus,fruit of this tree remains more attractive to the ultimate buyer, theconsumer, and thereby will command premium prices for the late freshdesert market.

[0010] The fruit matures in the latter part of the peach growing seasonof southwestern Michigan. The fruit as mentioned heretofore is of darkred color overlying a yellow which covers approximately twenty percent(20%) of its surface and has a very attractive appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

[0011] In the accompanying photographic illustrations, the topphotograph shows a second generation tree in its sixth leaf (i.e., sixthyear since two year grafted tree was transplanted) showing the naturallyoccurring wide-spreading characteristic of this cultivar.

[0012] The bottom photograph shows two whole peaches of this cultivardepicting bright red skin color for fruit maturing so late in theseason. The middle fruit has been split on a plane ninety degrees to thesuture plane to depict the fruit flesh in cross section. The conformanceof the pit cavity is illustrated, as is the desirable ratio of the sizeof the stone to the fruit size of this tree. A ruler has been placed inthe photograph showing the large size of the fruit.

DESCRIPTION OF VARIETY

[0013] The detailed botanical description of the foliage and fruit ofthe new variety of peach tree is based upon observations of thespecimens grown at Coloma, Mich. with the color terminology, other thanthe terminology expressed in common terms, in accordance with thePanatone Matching System (PMS) as used internationally to identifyprinted colors.

[0014] Tree:

[0015]Height.—Unpruned 13′.

[0016]Width.—Unpruned 15′.

[0017]Size.—Medium.

[0018]Vigor.—Medium.

[0019]Density.—Medium.

[0020]Form.—Spreading.

[0021]Production.—Very good — approximately two-thirds of the fruit mustbe removed annually to produce good size.

[0022]Bearer.—Consistent.

[0023]Disease resistance to bacterial leaf and fruit spot.—Very good.

[0024] Trunk:

[0025]Bark.—Grayish brown.

[0026]Size.—Medium.

[0027]Surface.—Medium smooth.

[0028] Branches:

[0029]Size.—Medium.

[0030]Surface.—Medium smooth.

[0031]Lenticels.—Medium number and length 2/16″ to 5/16″.

[0032]Color.—Grayish brown.

[0033] Leaves:

[0034]Size.—Average length 5¼″ — average width 1⅜″.

[0035]Form.—Lanceolate — elongated point.

[0036]Thickness.—Medium.

[0037]Texture.—Medium.

[0038]Margin.—Finely rounded serrate.

[0039]Petiole.—Medium length — medium thickness.

[0040]Gland.—Oval — very small — usually 2 on each side of the petioleand basal portion of the leaf.

[0041]Gland Color.—Yellow.

[0042]Color.—Top of leaf very dark green (357) — bottom of leaf lightgreen (370).

[0043] Flower buds:

[0044]Size.—Medium.

[0045]Length.—Medium.

[0046] Flowers:

[0047]Blooming period.—May 3, 2001 to May 6, 2001.

[0048]Size.—Non-showy petals — ¾″ diameter.

[0049]Pollen.—Present, self-fertilizing.

[0050]Color.—Pink.

[0051] Fruit:

[0052]Maturity when described.—Firm ripe.

[0053]Date of first picking.—Aug. 23, 2001.

[0054]Date of last picking.—Aug. 30, 2001.

[0055]Size.—Large — average diameter 2¾″.

[0056]Form.—Oblate spherical.

[0057]Suture.—Rounded but somewhat pronounced.

[0058] Skin:

[0059]Thickness.—Medium.

[0060]Texture.—Medium.

[0061]Tendency to crack.—None.

[0062]Down.—Light.

[0063]Color.—Light yellow ground color (113) overspread with 80% red(193) — some mottling where the colors meet.

[0064] Flesh:

[0065]Texture.—Extremely firm, non-melting, free of fiber.

[0066]Ripens.—Evenly.

[0067]Flavor.—Very good.

[0068]Aroma.—Pleasant.

[0069]Eating quality.—Excellent.

[0070]Color.—Light yellow (100) throughout with dark red around the pit(222).

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of peach treesubstantially as illustrated and described as a medium size spreadingtree and a consistent bearer of very firm, red colored, large fruit forthe mid to late peach growing season.